PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Donald Delacruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viet Hoang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Viet Hoang will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Delacruz
vs
Hoang

156 cm
20
193 lbs
2 - 4 - 1

168 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Donald Delacruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Viet Hoang!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Viktor Lagutenko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Hoang with that takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Delacruz misses the target.
Hoang fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hoang dives in for a single leg takedown but Delacruz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Hoang closes the distance and pushes Delacruz back into the cage.

Hoang pulls Delacruz into guard.
Hoang being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoang is trying to control the position but Delacruz postures up.
Hoang is pulling down on Delacruz's head. It's preventing any offense from Delacruz, at least for the moment.
Delacruz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delacruz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hoang's guard.
Delacruz sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hoang trying to keep a closed guard but Delacruz is proving a slippery customer.

Hoang is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Delacruz trying to control but Hoang is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Hoang clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hoang gets underhooks to prevent Delacruz's takedown attempt.
Hoang can't break the clinch.
Hoang tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hoang tries to pull guard but Delacruz forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Donald Delacruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viet Hoang.
Delacruz wants to stall.

Hoang pulls guard successfully.
Delacruz could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hoang keeping moving, preventing Delacruz from controlling successfully.
Delacruz stopping the sweep attempt from Hoang.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delacruz pushing down on Hoang's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Delacruz is controlling the pace.
Hoang is looking to escape.
Delacruz wants to control but Hoang is keeping him busy.

Delacruz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Delacruz is keen to just control but Hoang is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Delacruz content to control rather than advance.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hoang is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hoang throws a wild body kick that Delacruz sees coming a mile off.
Delacruz is looking for a counter combo.
Delacruz tries to bum rush Hoang with a series of wild strikes but Hoang uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hoang misses with a takedown attempt - Delacruz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viet Hoang dominated that round.
That's time! Delacruz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hoang throws a low kick but it's checked well by Delacruz.
Delacruz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hoang misses with a series of wild punches.
Delacruz looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

Hoang clinches.
Hoang fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoang is trying to push Delacruz away but Delacruz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hoang jumps guard but Delacruz turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hoang jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Delacruz walks away with a smile on his face. Hoang gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Donald Delacruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viet Hoang.

Delacruz feints and as Hoang raises his hands in defense, Delacruz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delacruz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Delacruz wants to control from the top but Hoang keeps moving.
Delacruz won't allow Hoang to get back to his feet.
Delacruz trying to control but Hoang is working from the bottom.
Hoang not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Delacruz is fighting to break Hoang's control of his arms but Hoang is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Delacruz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Delacruz trying to control but Hoang is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hoang checks the leg kick.
Hoang feints the counter takedown.
Viet Hoang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Delacruz drives through with a takedown into Hoang's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hoang wants to sweep but no luck.
Hoang controls Delacruz momentarily but Delacruz frees himself.
Delacruz controlling from the top position.
Delacruz wants to control from the top but Hoang keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoang being controlled here, momentarily.
Delacruz has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hoang is proving hard to escape from.
Delacruz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hoang throws a head kick that misses

and Delacruz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hoang's guard.
Delacruz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hoang keeping moving, preventing Delacruz from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Delacruz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hoang has control of Delacruz's left arm, preventing Delacruz from doing any damage.
Hoang keeping moving, preventing Delacruz from controlling successfully.
Delacruz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hoang can do to turn this around?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Hoang looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donald Delacruz dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hoang stuffs the takedown attempt from Delacruz. Delacruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Hoang as Delacruz shoots in.
Hoang tries to clinch there but Delacruz circles away.
Delacruz seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Hoang lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Donald Delacruz has been cut.
Delacruz darts in looking for a takedown but Hoang gets double underhooks and turns Delacruz into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donald Delacruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hoang throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Delacruz tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hoang is in Delacruz's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Delacruz throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hoang won't allow Delacruz to sweep him here.
Delacruz throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Delacruz is on top in guard.

Delacruz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hoang looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Delacruz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hoang keeping moving, preventing Delacruz from controlling successfully.
Delacruz looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Delacruz wants to control from the top but Hoang keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hoang instigates a clinch.
Hoang drops down looking for an ankle pick but Delacruz pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hoang misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delacruz stuffs the takedown attempt from Hoang. Hoang gets slowly back to his feet.
Hoang takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Delacruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hoang is fending him off so far but Delacruz persists. Nope, Hoang circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice sprawl there from Hoang as Delacruz shoots in.
Hoang looks for a takedown but Delacruz sprawls well.
Delacruz with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hoang counters with a series of strikes. Delacruz will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hoang tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Delacruz defends well and Hoang ends up having to push Delacruz into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As Hoang looks to move away, Delacruz throws a big counter combo bu Hoang just gets out of the way.
Delacruz misses with a takedown attempt - Hoang sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Delacruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Hoang changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Delacruz tries to avoid it but Hoang manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Delacruz to the ground. Delacruz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hoang throws a sloppy head kick and Delacruz moves out of range easily.
Hoang throws a sloppy head kick
letting Delacruz counter with a right hand.
Delacruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hoang as he avoids it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Delacruz shoots in for a double leg but Hoang sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hoang will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viet Hoang comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hoang has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viet Hoang!